Iran moves closer to nuclear goal

IRAN is set to double its output of higher enriched uranium at its fortified underground facility, the United Nations watchdog warned yesterday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran was ready within days to ramp up its production of 20 per cent enriched uranium at its plant at Fordo using 700 more centrifuges.

That would double Iran’s output and cut in half the time it would take to acquire enough of the substance needed to make a nuclear weapon, reducing it to just over three months.

Iran says it has no interest in making nuclear arms, just nuclear power for its citizens, but other nations believe otherwise.

Iran refuses to give up enrichment despite sanctions and offers of reactor fuel from abroad and for years has stalemated an IAEA probe into its nuclear ambitions. The IAEA report was circulated among its 35 board member states and was leaked to the press.